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LendingClub Launches Home Improvement Financing; Begins Underwriting and Originating Loans Through Inaugural Partnership with Wisetack

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) today announced it has started underwriting and originating home improvement loans through its inaugural partnership with Wisetack, a platform embedded with over 40,000 contractors and growing.

LendingClub brings its expertise, proprietary credit models, and bank balance sheet directly to the point of sale for consumers seeking convenient and affordable financing for home improvement projects.

“We’re excited to begin originating loans within the $500 billion home improvement market, where we have distinct advantages over incumbents and a meaningful opportunity for growth,” said Steve Mattics, Chief Lending Officer at LendingClub. “This space is distinctly on brand for us. By combining our advanced underwriting and credit decisioning with Wisetack’s embedded platform, we’re able to clear the way for people to make meaningful home improvement projects happen while also helping contractors grow their own businesses. It’s the type of win-win we’re always striving for.”

Through the Wisetack platform, loans up to $65,000 are originated by LendingClub and offered seamlessly within contractor and merchant workflows. LendingClub’s underwriting system, which is informed by more than 150 billion cells of proprietary data, enables real-time credit decisions and supports access to larger loan amounts with transparent terms. The benefits of the partnership are clear:

Homeowners get instant offers and real-time approvals that allow them to make their projects happen, andContractors get immediate funding and better close rates, especially on larger projects.

“LendingClub’s move to originate loans strengthens the financing experience across our platform, helping more contractors offer flexible payment options that enable homeowners to move forward with larger projects,” said Bobby Tzekin, Founder and CEO of Wisetack.

Reinforced by LendingClub’s investment in Wisetack, both companies plan to continue scaling the partnership, expanding the range of LendingClub-originated financing solutions available across the platform.

“We’ve been really impressed with Wisetack’s team and platform,” said Scott Sanborn, LendingClub CEO, “so impressed that we have also made an investment in the company to help accelerate our future together.”

The U.S. home improvement market represents an estimated $500 billion in annual spending, driven by aging housing inventory and a continued preference among homeowners to renovate rather than relocate. LendingClub’s expansion into the home improvement financing vertical is a natural extension of its point-of-sale financing expertise. This represents a powerful new opportunity to attract, delight, and engage consumers in moments that matter – and represents a perfect example of how LendingClub’s members use credit responsibly to make it happen.

About LendingClub

LendingClub Bank (soon to be Happen Bank) is a digital bank built for the Motivated Middle: high-FICO, high-income, digitally savvy consumers actively managing their financial lives. Our difference? We make it easy for them to access award-winning products that help them keep more of what they earn and earn more on what they save. Our products are aligned by design to reward our five million members when they take positive financial steps, like saving regularly or making loan payments on time.

Our success is fueled by our advanced credit underwriting, a proprietary technology platform engineered for innovation, and a marketplace bank model that drives value for members, loan investors, and shareholders alike. The result is affordable credit, meaningful value, and a trusted banking relationship delivered consistently and profitably at scale.

As we look to our next chapter, we’re choosing a name that reflects why we exist: to clear the way for our members to make it happen. Learn more at https://www.meethappen.com.

LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) is the parent company and operator of LendingClub Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. Loans originated pursuant to the partnership with Wisetack are underwritten and originated by LendingClub Bank. For more information about LendingClub, visit https://www.lendingclub.com.

About Wisetack

Wisetack is the leading embedded platform for consumer financing for home services and home improvement, with presence in other verticals such as elective medical and car repair. Wisetack partners with software companies to embed consumer financing options into their customer-facing applications through simple APIs. Wisetack’s extensive network of merchants rely on Wisetack to offer their customers affordable pay-over-time options at point of sale.

Founded in 2018 in San Francisco by an experienced team of leaders in the financial technology industry, Wisetack is backed by leading VCs such as Greylock Partners, Quadrille Capital, Insight Partners, and Bain Capital Ventures. Payment options through Wisetack are provided by its lending partners and subject to credit approval. Terms may vary.

Safe Harbor Statement

Some of the statements in this press release, including statements regarding the growth and benefits of our partnership with Wisetack, are “forward-looking statements.” Words such as “plan”, “delivers” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements may contain these identifying words. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements include: our ability to develop and operate a compelling offering in the home improvement lending space, macroeconomic conditions, loan demand and performance, and those factors set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors” in LendingClub Corporation’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACTS:

LendingClub
Media Contact: Press@lendingclub.com
For Investors: IR@lendingclub.com

Wisetack
Media Contact: Press@wisetack.com

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SOURCE LendingClub Corporation

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-xplained–the-china-squeeze-or-the-china-opportunity-302870814.html

SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-d7-named-honoree-in-ifa-innovation-awards-for-best-in-ifa-next–emerging-technologies-302870806.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/asia-pacific-media-forum-held-in-chinas-guangdong-302870809.html

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